Families hope for swift return

Wednesday 19 November 2008 19.01 EST
First published on Wednesday 19 November 2008 19.01 EST

The families of the two British hostages on the Saudi supertanker seized by pirates said last night that they hoped the two men would be home very soon, though there were scant signs last night of a swift resolution.

Peter French, from Co Durham, and James Grady, from Strathclyde, are on the Sirius Star, which was attacked at the weekend as it sailed from Saudia Arabia to the US. French is the ship's chief engineer and Grady is the second officer. French is thought to be married with a 17-year-old daughter.

In a statement the Foreign Office said the men's families "greatly appreciate the concern that has been expressed by people throughout the UK and beyond, about Peter and James". It added: "They hope that Peter and James will be home safely to their families very soon."

The ship's operator, Dubai-based Vela International Marine Ltd, said French, James and the other 23 crew members on board were believed to be safe. Vela employs about 70 British nationals on its ships.

"Our first and foremost priority is ensuring the safety of the crew," said Salah B Ka'aki, Vela International's president. The crew consists of two British, two Polish, one Croatian, one Saudi and 19 Philippine nationals.

Nautilus UK, the union which represents ships' officers, said it was not surprised that Britons were senior members of such a multinational crew.

"British Merchant Navy officers are highly trained and highly sought after. It's also a global industry and people go where they're needed," said Nautilus assistant general secretary Mark Dickinson. He added: "Shipping is both British in the sense that a company can register its vessels in the UK and fly the red ensign, and its also the first truly global industry in that people can work under any flag."

About 1.2 million ratings and officers work in the global maritime industry, of whom 15,000 are Merchant Navy officers. Dickinson said a shortage of officers had made it a well-paid career. Chief engineers and captains can expect to earn £50,000-£70,000 a year tax free.